Stretcher

ABSTRACT

A stretcher comprising a frame having at least two parallel upper guides incorporated in said frame on the front and rear sides, respectively, for guiding a belt portion which is capable of supporting a human body, and at least two lower guides likewise incorporated in the frame on the front and rear sides, respectively, for guiding a belt portion which is in contact with the ground. Both ends of the belt portion guided over the upper guides are coupled to a coupling member incorporated in the frame so as to be movable in the direction of movement of the stretcher. The two ends of the belt portion guided over the lower guides are also coupled to said movable member.

United States Patent 1191 Stevens 14 1 Jan. 1,1974

[ STRETCHER [75] inventor: Simon Stevens, Den Helder,

Netherlands [22] Filed: June 22, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 155,584

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 11, 1970 Netherlands 7010299[52] us. 01. 5/81 R, 5/86 [51] Int. Cl A6lg l/02 [58] Field of Search5/60, 81, 81 R, 82, 5/86 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,654,644 4/1972 Stevens 5/81 R 3,418,670 12/1968 Morgan 5/81 3,579,6725/1971 Koll et a1. 5/81 3,493,979 2/1970 Koll et al. 5/81 3,654,6444/1972 Stevens 5/81 Primary ExaminerCasmir A. Nunberg Att0rney-Frank R.Trifari [57] ABSTRACT A stretcher comprising a frame having at least twoparallel upper guides incorporated in said frame on the front and rearsides, respectively, for guiding a belt portion which is capable ofsupporting a human body, and at least two lower guides likewiseincorporated in the frame on the front and rear sides, respectively, forguiding a belt portion which is in contact with the ground. Both ends ofthe belt portion guided over the upper guides are coupled to a couplingmember incorporated in the frame so as to be movable in the direction ofmovement of the stretcher. The two ends of the belt portion guided overthe lower guides are also coupled to said movable member.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures STRETCHER The invention relates to astretcher comprising a frame having at least two parallel upper guidesincorporated in said frame on the front and rear side, respectively, forguiding a belt portion which can support a human body and at least twolower guides likewise incorporated in the frame on the front and rearside, respectively, for guiding a belt portion which is in contact withthe ground. The two belt portions move at the same speed and in the samedirection relative to the frame.

A stretcher of the type to which the present invention relates is knownfrom the U.S. Patent Specification 3,418,670. The two belt portions insaid known stretcher are each formed of an endless belt which is woundaround the upper and lower guides, respectively. The two endless beltsare locally in frictional contact so that when one belt is driven theother is taken along by friction.

The drawback of this known stretcher is its rather complicatedconstruction in which in particular the replacement of the endless beltsis difficult and timeconsuming. In addition there is the danger that,since only one of the belts is driven positively and the other is takenalong by friction, slip may occur so that the speed of the two beltsbecomes different. The result of this is that there may be relativemovement between the patient to be lifted and the upper belt, so thatthe possibility exists that the patient will experienceforces which maychangehis posture possibly resulting in his condition getting worse.

It is the object of the invention to provide a stretcher in which theabove-mentioned drawbacks are avoided.

The stretcher according to the invention is characterized in that bothends of the belt portion, which is guided over the upper guides, arecoupled to a coupling member incorporated in the frame so as to bemovable in the direction of movement of the stretcher. The two ends ofthe belt portion guided over the lower guides is also coupled to saidmovable coupling member. In this manner a stretcher is obtained in whichthe two belt portions move at an exactly equally large speed and in thesame direction relative to the frame by the movement of the couplingmember. Replacement of the two belt portions can be done very easily bydetaching them from the coupling member.

In a further embodiment of the stretcher according to the invention theends of the belt portion guided over the upper guides are connected tothe corresponding ends of the belt portion guided over the lower guides.The coupled ends are each guided over an associated guide roller whichforms part of the movable coupling member. So in this embodiment thestretcher comprises. When one endless belt when the coupling member ismoved it moves at the same speed and in the same direction relative tothe frame over the upper and lower guides.

In order that the invention may be readily carried into effect, oneembodiment ofa stretcher according to the invention will now bedescribed in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to theaccompanying diagrammatic drawings which are not drawn to scale and inwhich FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are two cross-sectional views and a plan view,respectively, of the stretcher according to the invention.

The drawing shows a stretcher the frame of which is formed by two sideplates 1 and 2 between which a guide plate 3 is secured. In the sideplates 1 and 2 are incorporated two upper guide rollers 4 and 5, theroller 4 of which is situated on the rear side and the roller 5 of whichis situated on the front side. Incorporated in said side plates 1 and 2are furthermore a lower guide roller 6 on the rear side and a lowerguide roller 7 on the front side; a number of further guide rollers 8are incorporated between the guide rollers 6 and 7. A belt portion 9 forsupporting a human body is guided over the guide rollers 4 and 5. Guideplate 3 prevents sagging of the belt when it is located between guiderollers 4 and 5. A further belt portion 10 is guided over the guiderollers 6, 7 and 8. One side of the belt portion 9 extends from roller 5to a guide roller 11 while one side of belt portion 10 also extends fromroller 7 to guide roller 11 where the two belt portions are connectedtogether so that one belt is formed, The other side of the belt portion9 extends from roller 4 to a guide roller 12, while the other side ofbelt portion 10 also extends to said guide roller 12 where the two endsare connected together so that one endless belt is obtained.

At their ends the guide rollers 11 and 12 are journalled in guide blocks13 which are movable in slotted guides 14 in the side plates 1 and 2. Inthis manner a movable coupling member for the belt portions 9 and 10 isobtained. In the blocks 13 the guide rollers 11 and 12 are drawn towardseach other by a tensioning spring 15 so that the belt 9, 10 is alwaystensioned. The blocks 13 each comprise a nut 16 in which a screw spindle17 is incorporated which extends along the side plates 1 and 2. On therear side of the stretcher the screw spindles 17 are each provided witha worm wheel 18 which cooperates with a common worm 19 which can berotated by means of a hand wheel 20.

By operating the hand wheel 20, the worm wheels 18 and screw spindles 17are rotated by the worm 19 so that the nuts 16 and hence the blocks 13start moving along the screw spindles 17. This means that the guiderollers 11 and 12 start moving in the longitudinal direction of thestretcher as a result of which, for example, upon movement of rollers 11and 12 from the rear side to the front the belt portion 9 moves fromroller 5 to roller 4, so to the left in FIG. 1, while the belt portion10 moves from roller 7 to roller 6, so likewise to the left. Since beltportion 10 is stationary relative to the ground, this means that theframe will start moving to i the right at the same speed but opposite tothe belt portion 9. This means that the belt portion 9 has no movementrelative to a patient to be lifted so that said patient experiencessubstantially no forces and can be lifted without variation of posture.In this embodiment the belt portions 9 and 10 are united to form anendless belt which is guided over the rollers 11 and 12 of a movablecoupling member. In circumstances it is also possible to omit therollers 11 and 12 and rigidly secure the ends of the belt portions 9 and10 to the coupling member.

What is claimed is:

1. A stretcher comprising a pair of upright side frames, first andsecond parallel upper guides carried between said side frames on thefront and rear respectively of said stretcher, at least two lower guidescarried between said side frames on the front and rear of saidstretcher, a first belt portion of finite length for supporting a humanbody guided for movement between said first and second upper guides, asecond belt portion of finite length guided for movement between saidlower guides in contact with the ground so that when said second beltportion is moved in one direction said stretcher will be propelled alongthe ground in the opposite direction at an equal speed, a couplingmember supported by said frame for movement in the direction of movementof said stretcher, the corresponding ends of said first and secondfinite belt portions being coupled to said coupling member so that assaid coupling member is moved said first and second belt portions willbe caused to move in the same direction and at the same speed, and meansconnected to said coupling tion guided therebetween.

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 4 Pacent No.3,781,929 Dated Janygrvsl. 1974' Inventor(s) SIMON STEVENS It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 1,; line 54, should read:

--'comprises one endless belt. When the couplin --I Claims 2 and 3sh'ou1d read as follows:

--2. 'A stretcher comprising a pair of upright side frames, first andsecond parallel upper guides carried between said side frames on thefront and rear respective of said stretcher, at least two lower guidescarried between said side frames on \the. front and rear of saidstretcher, a first belt portion of finite length for supporting a humanbody guided for movement between said first and second upper guides, asecond belt portion of finite length guided for movement between saidlower guid in contact with the ground so that when said second beltportion is moved in one direction said stretcher will be propelled alongthe ground in the opposite direction at 'an equal speed, a couplingmember. supportedby said frame for movement in the direction of movementof said stretcher, the corresponding ends of said first and secon finitebelt portions being coupled to said coupling member so" that as saidcoupling member is moved said firs and second belt portions will becaused to move in the same direction and at the same speed, and meansconnected to said coupling member for causing movement thereof,

Page 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,781,929 Dated JANUARY 1, 1974 Inventor S IMON STEVENS It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

said coupling member comprising a pair of rollers, corresponding ends ofsaid first and second belts being connected to each other, saidconnected ends being guided over one of said rollers.

33. A stretcher comprising a pair of upright side frames, firstandsecond parallel upper guides carried between said side frames on thefront and rear respectively off said stretcher, at least two lowerguides carried between said side frames on the front and rear of saidstretcher a first belt portion of finite length for supporting a humanbody guided for movement between said first and second upper guides, asecond belt portion of finite length guided for movement between saidlower guides in contact with the ground so that when said second beltportion is moved in one direction said stretcher will be propelled alongthe ground in the opposite direction at an equal speed, a couplingmember supported by said frame for movement in the direction of movementof said stretcher, the corresponding ends of said first and secondfinite belt portions being coupled to said coupling member so that assaid coupling member is moved said first and second belt portions willbe caused to move in the same direction and at the same speed, and meansconnected to said coupling member for causing movement thereof, and 'aguide plate extending between said first and second upper guides forsupporting said first belt portion guided therebetween.--

L Y Signed and sealed fihis ll' th' day of May 1971;. v I

(SEAL) Attest;

EDl'JARD MJLETCHERJR. MARS LL DA N mmiss oner 0 Patent Me ni ffi r-

1. A stretcher comprising a pair of upright side frames, first andsecond parallel upper guides carried between said side frames on thefront and rear respectively of said stretcher, at least two lower guidescarried between said side frames on the front and rear of saidstretcher, a first belt portion of finite length For supporting a humanbody guided for movement between said first and second upper guides, asecond belt portion of finite length guided for movement between saidlower guides in contact with the ground so that when said second beltportion is moved in one direction said stretcher will be propelled alongthe ground in the opposite direction at an equal speed, a couplingmember supported by said frame for movement in the direction of movementof said stretcher, the corresponding ends of said first and secondfinite belt portions being coupled to said coupling member so that assaid coupling member is moved said first and second belt portions willbe caused to move in the same direction and at the same speed, and meansconnected to said coupling member for causing movement thereof.
 2. Astretcher comprising a pair of upright side frames, first and secondparallel upper guides carried between said side frames on the front andrear respectively of said stretcher, at least two lower guides carriedbetween said side frames on the front and rear of said stretcher, afirst belt portion of finite length for supporting a human body guidedfor movement between said first and second upper guides, a second beltportion of finite length guided for movement between said lower guidesin contact with the ground so that when said second belt portion ismoved in one direction said stretcher will be propelled along the groundin the opposite direction at an equal speed, a coupling member supportedby said frame for movement in the direction of movement of saidstretcher, the corresponding ends of said first and second finite beltportions being coupled to said coupling member so that as said couplingmember is moved said first and second belt portions will be caused tomove in the same direction and at the same speed, and means connected tosaid coupling member for causing movement thereof, said coupling membercomprising a pair of rollers, corresponding ends of said first andsecond belts being connected to each other, said connected ends beingguided over one of said rollers.
 3. A stretcher comprising a pair ofupright side frames, first and second parallel upper guides carriedbetween said side frames on the front and rear respectively of saidstretcher, at least two lower guides carried between said side frames onthe front and rear of said stretcher, a first belt portion of finitelength for supporting a human body guided for movement between saidfirst and second upper guides, a second belt portion of finite lengthguided for movement between said lower guides in contact with the groundso that when said second belt portion is moved in one direction saidstretcher will be propelled along the ground in the opposite directionat an equal speed, a coupling member supported by said frame formovement in the direction of movement of said stretcher, thecorresponding ends of said first and second finite belt portions beingcoupled to said coupling member so that as said coupling member is movedsaid first and second belt portions will be caud to move in the samedirection and at the same speed, and means connected to said couplingmember for causing movement thereof, and a guide plate for extendingbetween said first and second upper guides for supporting said firstbelt portion guided therebetween.